Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are in 'conflict' over the future of Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar.
PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently cast doubt upon the Brazilian's future at the club by claiming that they are 'no longer counting' on him. Neymar's long-term PSG attacking partner Mbappe opted to sign a three-year contract extension with the Ligue 1 champions last month, keeping him in the French capital until 2025 as Messi's high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona last summer further reduced the status of Neymar at the club.
PSG completed their Ligue 1 title success in April but fans are so disillusioned with their side at the moment that they did not want to celebrate the success with the players. In March, PSG fans booed Messi and Neymar during the club's first Ligue 1 match following their elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid at the last-16 stage.
The two South American superstars were jeered with every touch of the ball they had against Bordeaux. Those boos came just a day after PSG ultras called on president Al-Khelaifi to resign following their club's latest European humbling with widespread discontent at the club palpable.
One of the reasons for the lack of harmony perhaps revolves around the sky-high expectation levels around the front three of Mbappe, Messi and Neymar. Despite promising so much, never clicked into top gear during their debut season together at the Parc des Princes. Now a report in Mundo Deportivo highlights discontent between the trio.
One of the most noticeable aspects around his new deals were the reports that Mbappe would hold great sway in the club’s sporting decisions as part of his new deal. This would include giving the striker a say on which players should be signed and kept alongside decisions on managers and sporting directors.
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The latest report suggests that Mbappe believes PSG should look to move on from Neymar due to some indiscipline, but this has been met with resistance by Messi. The Argentine is backing up his close friend Neymar over his sporting impact and significance for the dressing room.
The Brazilian has been involved in just 92 Ligue 1 matches across five seasons and with PSG hopeful of offsetting the costs of Mbappe's and Messi's respective wages, his future may be vulnerable. When asked about the player's future in Paris, Al-Khelaifi said last month: "Neymar part of the new project or not? We can't speak about this in public as some players will arrive, some players will leave the club. These are private negotiations."
The future of Neymar in the French capital may appear uncertain but his contract has recently been extended through to 2027 and his sizable wage demands and contractual certainties in Paris mean that any exit remains unlikely.
